A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

The noted limitation regarding the reliability of fMRI scans lies in the consistency between measurements can be low. This means that while fMRI is widely used in neuroscience to observe brain activity by measuring changes in blood flow, it can sometimes yield variable results. This inconsistency might arise from factors such as the subject's movement, varying states of attention, or differences in how individuals' brains respond to stimuli. Consequently, these variables can affect the replicability of fMRI results across different sessions or studies. This contrasts with the other options, which either misrepresent the nature of fMRI scans or do not directly address the issue of reliability. For instance, while fMRI is indeed a non-invasive technique, this fact does not pertain to its reliability in terms of producing consistent results. Additionally, fMRI primarily provides quantitative data about brain activity rather than qualitative insights, and although the technology may be periodically updated, referring to it as outdated undermines its ongoing relevance and application in contemporary research.